Seat Height

siobhan_kos
siobhan_kos Posts: 11
edited March 2009 in MTB beginners
What is the perfect seat height? Is it when your legs are fully stretched at the lowest pedal position?

Comments

  • nicklouse
    nicklouse Posts: 50,675
    heel on the pedal leg straight. down.

    and then adjust so the seat is as high but without the hips rocking.
    "Do not follow where the path may lead, Go instead where there is no path, and Leave a Trail."
    Parktools :?:SheldonBrown
  • reppohkcor
    reppohkcor Posts: 111
    If your doing technical trails don't forget to have it a few inches lower, drops and dips will lurch the bike forward... including the saddle... Ouch!
  • .blitz
    .blitz Posts: 6,197
    siobhan_kos wrote:
    What is the perfect seat height?
    Some people would say it's when you can't get your fingers between the saddle and the tyre :wink:
  • Daz555
    Daz555 Posts: 3,976
    edited March 2009
    reppohkcor wrote:
    If your doing technical trails don't forget to have it a few inches lower, drops and dips will lurch the bike forward... including the saddle... Ouch!
    This is important. On steeper or technical trails (rocky, steps etc) the saddle can really kick you in the arse and knock you out of your stride or even cause a crash. It can also cause you to fail to get your arse over the rear wheel in time before a drop, resulting in an unsheduled journey over the bars.

    Marking your 'best' riding position on the seat post is a useful tip so you can easily return it to pedalling position when back on the smoother stuff.
    You only need two tools: WD40 and Duck Tape.
    If it doesn't move and should, use the WD40.
    If it shouldn't move and does, use the tape.
  • MrChuck
    MrChuck Posts: 1,663
    siobhan_kos wrote:
    What is the perfect seat height? Is it when your legs are fully stretched at the lowest pedal position?

    Not quite- a good rule of thumb is it's a good height when your legs are straight with your heel on the pedal at its lowest point. Then, when you have the ball of your foot on the pedal when riding, you should have the right amount of bend in your knee. Adjust to suit from there.

    That's assuming you have pedalling efficiency in mind- as others have said you may sometimes want it lower for other reasons, if you're talking about MTBs..

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